Northwoods Bass Fishing Report – End of Year 2019

Winter and ice came early again this year! I remember when open water fishing deep into the month of November was once possible and comfortable to do. We’ve endured brutal fall seasons and rapid cold conclusions these last two years.

My 2019 fishing season in Wisconsin concluded on 10/29, and I’m back down south now in IL coping with the winter months, house hunting, and desk work season. As far as I know, ice was already forming on the lakes 10/30, and as of this weekend many the biggest lakes and some rivers remain open and navigable.

Cheers to 2019 and your own winterizations. Sorry Hamm’s Beer, I didn’t have any remaining for a final toast.

This last installment of 2019 is a year-end summary with highlights more than an actual fishing report. Unfortunately (mostly due to crappy cold weather) I didn’t host any bass trips this October, and therefore don’t have much of any current bass fishing reports to share.

Since my last report and newsletter from second week of October, smallmouth were already mostly wintering.

Following completion of turnover, deep staging fish finally concentrate together and move into their overwintering sites where they will camp at until ice out the following spring. This makes catching them pretty easy once you have their locations identified, and fish marked down below.

Kind of like this……

I ended up catching these two fish on consecutive rips with the jig.

With no bass trips in October I didn’t have to go catch bass unless I really wanted to. October 26th was the last nice day of the year, and I had the urge for one last time. It was a fun day of video gaming. I hammered down into a few big ones. Five fish I caught went 20-21 inches. Note there were long dead periods in between the short and rapid feeding windows. I also camped over one major spot the entire trip. See screenshot above, left side Navionics panel.

For preferred weather and conditions, fall 2019 sucked. The fishing was excellent, but season not long enough. It was a short and rapid cooldown, and not a gradual one which is most preferred.

Since my bass season ended, a number of nice muskies were caught. This summer I was too busy with bass, didn’t have much of a July and August period to work with for trips and leisure, and I did not have my first opportunities at muskies until around Labor Day weekend. For limited duty, my boat(s) had a really good season of muskies as we boated 35 muskies.

My month of October was filled with lots of muskies, including two beasts we caught last week.

Check out some of the screenshots below. First two is what sucker strikes look like. Both are the two big fish above.

What’s Happening Now

Winter has arrived. Ice is forming. Most boats now winterized. Winter sucks.

Thank You Customers

Thank you customers for entrusting me for your bass fishing and northwoods fishing success! I appreciate your business and friendships. I also enjoy staying in touch with you all during the season and winter off-season, whether chatting by phone, texting, or replying to emails and questions. I really enjoy it.

Each day of fishing in my boat brings high expectations and very high standards. My objectives are for you to catch, and for me to navigate the boat, put YOU on spots, instruct and educate. Whether or not you caught a giant bass with me that day, I’m sure you returned home with a new outlook on bass fishing, information you can apply on your own, and acquired more knowledge and intellect that will make you a better angler for years to come. After every day fishing, I know I do.

27 trips went down in what was a cold, wet, shortened and condensed year of fishing for me. Due to wedding, I didn’t have much of a summer season during July and August to work with. Both months are my personal favorites when it comes to trophy hunting.

While no serious heavyweights or giants of year’s past boated this year, many MANY 4 to 5 lb. class fish were caught and released this year. Almost every trip produced one or more big ones except for two mid summer dates we had in July.

I take photos of almost every 4 pounder or larger smallmouth we catch, and I have over 95 fish on the record between customers and I from 2019 that surpassed at least 4 lbs. or a 20 inch length this year.

Great year for big fish and average size. I theorize the late ice out and cold season kept the massive giants more elusive and disengaged.

Check out some of the big bass and groupers we caught in 2019. That could be you in 2020.

2019 Biggest Fish of the Year Awards

Biggest Smallmouth – 21 inch, Dave Czeszewski, May 2019

Biggest Largemouth – 21 inch, Amanda Ragas, August 2019

Heaviest Bass – TIE – Jeff Butler, 5.5 pounder smallmouth, May 2019 and Tyler Reid 5.5 pounder smallmouth, September 2019.

New Customer PB’s – 11

Nice going, you all!

Winter Schedule and Seminars

Right now I am back at my desk job. Did you guys know I am self employed, and run my own business from home as a website & graphic designer? I also offer other services such as web management and marketing too – for all businesses and industries. If you think your company is looking to improve its web and internet presence, give me a hollar. www.ragasmedia.com

These next two months I will be composing 8 to 10 new articles for 2020 publications and my column in Midwest Outdoors Magazine. Great, new stuff is coming.

Lots of New / Lightly Used Gear For Sale This Winter

Rods. Reels. Baits and plastics. I will have lots up for sale. More coming soon. Priced low in order to upgrade and make room for new.

Seminars and Events

I have 3 upcoming events. 2 or 3 more are pending. I will publish and add to calendar as soon as they get finalized.

Sport Shows

These shows are too expensive for me to exhibit at, and require too much time out of my weekends to be at. But the only two I will be attending for sure is the Schaumburg Fishing Show January 23-26th. I will be sitting in with St. Germain Lodge. Another show I will be attending for social purposes is the Chicago Muskie Expo in mid January. I don’t have much of an interest in the others.

New for this winter, I will have these new brochures to disperse for marketing purposes. You will probably grab copies of them wherever I’m at.

Now Booking 2020 Dates

All repeat customers from 2017-2019 get first priority booking thru December 1st. Choose your dates, and give me a call or e-mail.

After December 1st, dates are open to everyone.

All deposits due after January 1st, 2020.

For those of you planning early for next year, please contact me for 2020 trips, instruction, and fishing opportunities.

All dates I will be fishing, or plan to, are visibly shown on my online calendar.

For 2020, the only weekends off limits at this time will be Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekends. There will likely be other full or partial weekends and holiday weekends I will not be available. The only dates I will be able to host trips and guide are listed in GREEN on my online calendar. If it’s not in green, I will not be available.

Andrew Ragas
Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures, LLC
Licensed and Insured
Specializing in Northern Wisconsin inland bass fishing

tel: 708-256-2201
email: andrew@northwoodsbass.com
web: www.northwoodsbass.com